These Dangerous Girls Placed Me Into Jeopardy

Vol. 2 Ch. 55.55

The moment I woke up, I was already in the hospital.

After Ethan passed out, I had tried to run to him and hold him, but my strength suddenly vanished.

I fainted halfway.

There was no pain. But my body must’ve hit its limit.

“Fractured nasal bone, three broken ribs on the left side—one of which almost punctured the lung—internal bleeding, a sprained right foot, and a total of six... scratches and abrasions... heheh, Ethan, the fact that you didn’t die this time... really, you could call it miraculous.”

I opened my eyes and turned my head toward the voice.

Sure enough, it was Lillian Ji.

She was sitting in a chair at my left side, back facing me, holding a piece of paper, talking to someone.

“Ah—ahahaha... I didn’t think I’d be back in the hospital so soon... Mm, just like a certain spiky-headed guy, huh.”

“Heh, so you’re at least self-aware about being a hopeless nice guy?”

...Not really a hopeless nice guy. Also, if you’re going to be my girlfriend, don’t hand me a good-guy card, will you?

“Hehehehe~”

It was Ethan’s voice.

I want to see him.

Even though my stomach hurt a bit, I forced myself upright.

“...Ethan.”

“Snowy! You’re awake! Ah—wait! Don’t sit up! Your abdominal injury is really serious—”

Ethan reached toward me in a panic.

In doing so, he pulled on his own injuries and winced in pain.

Idiot.

“You’re still worrying about someone else? Really... she’s fine on her own. You should lie down like a good boy.”

“I’m fine.”

To prove it, I got off the bed and stood on the floor, stretching my body slightly.

“Well... your abdominal injury was actually quite severe. We were going to operate, but your recovery was too fast. To avoid alarming the doctors, we... didn’t. I’m the same. Thanks to... that... your saliva.”

“Then... let’s do it again.”

If it works that well, then let’s do it one more time. Licking Ethan gives me a sense of closeness—and it helps him heal. Two birds, one tongue.

I walked over to him and reached to undo the bandage on his head, but my wrist was suddenly grabbed.

“Back off, poker face.”

“Don’t get in my way.”

Lillian may be Ethan’s girlfriend, but she doesn’t get to decide things for him.

I chose to ignore her.

“Ah, it’s alright, Snowy—your saliva’s effect is still working. No need to reapply it. My wounds are healing really fast—I can feel them itching already. Look, I didn’t even need surgery.”

He woke up before me. His voice sounded energetic. He wasn’t lying.

I nodded. I’d accept Ethan’s judgment for now.

Looks like I don’t need to lick him again... shame. I’ll wait until the effect wears off—then give him a thorough, full-body treatment.

“So, thank you for the gesture.”

Ethan held out his hand, and I leaned my head into it.

I love it when he pats my head.

When his palm rests on the crown of my head, it’s warm.

It feels good.

Though kissing feels even better.

It’s addictive.

But with Lillian Ji here, I probably can’t kiss Ethan right now.

I’ll wait until she’s not around. Then I’ll kiss him properly again.

“Ethan? Are you not taking this seriously? That was a fatal wound! Way worse than last time! You danced at death’s doorstep!”

This woman’s really loud.

She used to be quieter, but after what happened, she suddenly got annoyingly noisy.

Which means she’s lost her composure.

I can tell she’s frustrated about what happened.

Ethan might not have picked up on it, but her voice carried regret.

She thinks it’s her fault?

...Though it really wasn’t.

She was a victim too. A normal person can’t resist being possessed by a ghost—especially a full-on symbiotic possession.

Ethan scratched the back of his head, looking a little sheepish.

“Well, I didn’t die, right?”

“So what if you didn’t?! You suffered serious—”

I see.

She’s upset because Ethan got hurt.

Lillian Ji... actually has those kinds of emotions?

I thought she was a cold-blooded murderer. Someone who treats people like toys.

Unexpectedly human of her.

Or maybe... she’s only like that with Ethan?

That’s not so bad either...

“I’d be crazy not to be mad! After you passed out, poker face over here passed out too, and then your little ghost girl collapsed like she was scheduled to! Wanna know how I carried three people to the hospital?! Hehehehe... this was my first time doing heavy labor like that. Got a real taste of what it’s like to be a mover—hehe...”

“...I’m really sorry.”

Ethan loses some of his presence when he’s talking to Lillian. He even seems a little scared of her.

If she makes Ethan feel fear, then she’s not qualified.

Even if she does have special feelings for him... that alone isn’t enough.

“So now we’re just waiting for Rainie to wake up... Her back was hit hard, after all.”

“Hmph. She could’ve just stayed in a quiet private room, but nooo, had to join us here in—”

“I just don’t feel comfortable not watching over them. Besides, there aren’t any private rooms left...”

“Ethan... what about your father?”

“Ah, Dad probably left work early today—it’s Qingming Festival. The whole family was supposed to go visit the grave together. I was planning to join them but...”

“Heh... how unfortunate. The most important part... the pinky finger... it’s gone.”

Lillian turned her head toward me, eyes narrowing.

“So... some shameless little °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° girl should probably give it back now, right? There are things you shouldn’t accept even if someone gives them to you, didn’t you know?”

She was talking about the finger.

Ethan’s pinky.

Her eyes were practically on fire.

For her, any part missing from Ethan’s body must be unbearable.

She’s the opposite of me—she seeks flawless perfection.

How foolish. How greedy.

Nothing in this world is perfect. Everything is missing something.

“Someone clung to that finger even while unconscious. Couldn’t even pry it out of her grip. Hand it over!”

“Hey, Lian... I gave it to her myself.”

“Who gives their finger to someone else?! Are you an idiot?!”

Ethan wasn’t born with a disability.

He used to be whole.

It wasn’t an accident. He chose to sever it.

Deliberately... to offer it...

I’m happy.

Overjoyed.

I could smile in my sleep.

But I... I can’t...

I don’t want to give it back—but if it’s for Ethan...

“Snowy?”

I pulled out Ethan’s pinky from my hand.

Yes. This is what’s best.

“It... could still be reattached.”

“If we gave it to Dad, maybe he could... but forget it.”

“You know I’m a man of my word, Lillian.”

Ethan looked serious as he spoke to me.

“That pinky was my reward for you, Snowy. A gift. And a gift’s not something I take back. These hands too—if you ever want them, they’re yours.”

“Ethan... you’re...”

So happy.

Ethan is so cool.

“Besides, it’s not like I use my pinky for much. Even without it, it’s no big deal.”

Then I’ll be the one to make up for what’s missing.

“I’ll complete you.”

“Uh, Snowy? Are you listening?”

“...Can I have the ring finger instead?”

“...Huh?”

“I want... your left ring finger.”

The one meant for a vow ring.

If he gives me that...

“No takebacks.”

“...”

“Even if you pout, I won’t give in... I absolutely won’t...”

Ethan turned his head away and rejected me.

I figured it wouldn’t work.

What I really want is...

“Nn!”

...I kissed him.

...Explosion incoming. Hehe...

Better retreat for now.

I jumped off the bed and ran out of the room.

My stomach growled. Healing takes a lot of energy. Time to find something to eat.

When I got in the elevator, I ran into someone familiar.

It was Kan Tsukiyo.

She looked guilty, her body spattered with blood—not human blood. Ghost blood.

“I’m sorry, Snowy... I was too slow...”

“...Hm?”

“I let you take on such a dangerous role as bait... and in the end, I couldn’t even back you up properly... everything came down to you...”

“It wasn’t... all me.”

There was Ethan.

There was Rainie.

Even Lillian Ji, in a way.

Without them, I wouldn’t have survived.

“I know... If not for all of you, things would’ve been... unthinkable...”

“What exactly... happened?”

It was supposed to be a sweep. How did it turn into a reverse-ambush?

Where did it go wrong?

“It was a leak in information security. Someone in one of the theater troupes gave away our intel. Those murderers used it against us—set up a reverse barrier. Our people couldn’t even get inside... The Black Street’s defenses are too strong. Ironically, they ended up helping the enemy. We couldn’t break in fast enough...”

Our solid defense became our prison.

They exploited it.

“Afterward, the organization shifted strategy—tried to go after the ghost bodies directly. But it was too late... and I got injured too...”

I see. That’s why the possession was broken at that time.

“...I already ate all those ghosts myself.”

“It’s fine. Ghost-eating ghosts isn’t strange... They deserved to know what that feels like.”

Her expression was dark. Her voice full of murderous intent.

Looks like she pushed herself really hard too.

I stepped forward and hugged her.

“Thank you, Tsukiyo.”

“Eh? Snowy... you called me by name!”

“I’m so happy~ Hehe.”

“Tsukiyo, I’ve found someone who can fill that missing place.”

She knew who I meant.

“Is it Ethan?”

“Mm.”

“Then... you made a very good choice.”

She patted my back.

“In that case, you’d better treasure him properly...”

“...Yeah.”

I will treasure him.

Because Ethan is the one—

—the one who can fill the hole in my heart called “emotion.”